Weekend Box Office : ‘Killers’ Takes ‘em by Surprise

Strong box-office performance this weekend assured that the summer of 1994 would surpass last summer as the best ever. A first-place finish by “Natural Born Killers” took many by surprise and made for the biggest opening of any Oliver Stone film to date.

“Publicity for the film, fueled by excellent reviews and controversial subject matter, obviously hit a nerve--particularly in young males and females and older males,” says Dan Fellman, executive vice president and general sales manager of Warner distribution.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Natural Born Killers” $11.2 1,510 1 (Warner Bros.) $11.2 $7,395 2. “Forrest Gump” $9.9 2,237 8 (Paramount) $222.3 $4,424 3. “Clear and Present Danger” $8.2 2,379 4 (Paramount) $86.3 $3,432 4. “The Mask” $5.3 2,516 5 (New Line) $92.0 $2,122 5. “Corrina, Corrina” $3.8 698 3 (New Line) $4.3 $5,444 6. “Color of Night” $3.5 1,740 2 (Disney/Hollywood) $12.9 $2,006 7. “True Lies” $3.4 1,530 7 (20th Century Fox) $126.7 $2,239 8. “The Lion King” $3.0 1,344 11 (Walt Disney) $257.0 $2,242 9. “Camp Nowhere” $2.76 1,358 1 (Disney/Hollywood) $2.76 $2,029 10. “The Client” $2.72 1,802 6 (Warner Bros.) $78.5 $1,512

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.